There are two books I've read recently that I wasn't sure I would love but couldn't put down once I started reading them.
The first book was recommended to me by my friend, Kris. She said that if I liked The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson, I would probably like A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Both writers are Swedish.
I had every intention of reading it but it was so popular that it was on Hold at the library for a long time before I was finally able to check it out and download the book to my Kindle.
I started reading it and put it down because I thought it was just a story about a cantankerous older fellow who seemed bitter and unfriendly.
A few days later I picked it up again and that was it. I couldn't put it down. I truly didn't want the book to end. I discovered there was more to Ove than meets the eye and loved how he began to allow love to once more bloom into his life.
The next book I read was recommended by Hank Chapin. I've always known about Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai where victims of Hansen's Disease (leprosy) were sent from 1866 to 1969.
It always bothered me that Father Damien is the only person people think worked at Kalaupapa to help those afflicted with this terrible, disfiguring disease.
Not so with Molokai by Alan Brennert. He even mentions the Buddhist temple where my grandfather tended his parishioners. He also shines light on Mother Marianne Cope and Brother Joseph Dutton who my grandfather truly admired. The book is very carefully researched and you are completely drawn into the life of the beautiful Hawaiian girl who is wrenched from her family and sent there when she is 7 years old.
I loved Molokai so much, I'm now reading Honolulu by Alan Brennert.
This book is about a Korean girl who comes to Honolulu as a picture bride.
Once again, I'm glued to the book.
If you would like to read some wonderful books, I hope you'll give these a try. And if you do, please let me know what you think.
POSTSCRIPT:
I sent an email to Alan Brennert to tell him how much I enjoyed his books. What a happy surprise to receive a reply from him telling me about his motivation for writing the books and that he would let me know when his next book is published.
I had every intention of reading it but it was so popular that it was on Hold at the library for a long time before I was finally able to check it out and download the book to my Kindle.
I started reading it and put it down because I thought it was just a story about a cantankerous older fellow who seemed bitter and unfriendly.
A few days later I picked it up again and that was it. I couldn't put it down. I truly didn't want the book to end. I discovered there was more to Ove than meets the eye and loved how he began to allow love to once more bloom into his life.
It always bothered me that Father Damien is the only person people think worked at Kalaupapa to help those afflicted with this terrible, disfiguring disease.
Not so with Molokai by Alan Brennert. He even mentions the Buddhist temple where my grandfather tended his parishioners. He also shines light on Mother Marianne Cope and Brother Joseph Dutton who my grandfather truly admired. The book is very carefully researched and you are completely drawn into the life of the beautiful Hawaiian girl who is wrenched from her family and sent there when she is 7 years old.
This book is about a Korean girl who comes to Honolulu as a picture bride.
Once again, I'm glued to the book.
If you would like to read some wonderful books, I hope you'll give these a try. And if you do, please let me know what you think.
POSTSCRIPT:
I sent an email to Alan Brennert to tell him how much I enjoyed his books. What a happy surprise to receive a reply from him telling me about his motivation for writing the books and that he would let me know when his next book is published.
I also loved those first two books, and I just went over and put Alan Brennert's book on hold at the library. Thank you so much for the recommendation, and I felt exactly the same about Ove. At first I didn't want to read about a grumpy old man, but I'm so glad I did! I didn't want it to end, either. :-)
ReplyDeleteI just finished Nicholas Sparks' "The Longest Ride" and I found it to be one of those books too. I recommend it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Margie! I just borrowed it from the library.
DeleteGreat to hear about patrons utilizing the Hawaii State Public Library system. I am a substitute library assistant at the Laupahoehoe and Hilo branches. Am currently enjoying Joan Didion's lengthy list of books.
ReplyDeleteA Man Called Ove has been on my bedside table for months! finally I may read it. And thank you for the recommendations of the Hawaiian books. And I never knew your grandfather was there on Molokai. You must be so proud of him and his work.
ReplyDeleteGood to know! Thanks!!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing these reviews Kay!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you have direct contact with the author, Kay!
ReplyDeleteYour talking about Molokai prompted me to search for and reread your older blog posts about your grandfather. They always instill in me wonder, respect, inspiration, and tears. His memory is a blessing.
Awwww... Thank you, Dina. I am very proud of my grandfather. My mother still holds on to his memory with awe.
DeleteMahalo for the heads up about 2 great authors and their books! Cool that the local author contacted you - you probably made his day with your email. I think I will do the same with Patricia Wood, a transplanted author from Washington state and now living Hawaii, who wrote a really fun book, "Lottery". I borrowed it (audio CDs) from the State library, and it had me laughing out loud at times, and also wishing that it would never end.
ReplyDeleteI will wait until these books that you love are in audio form, since that is how I "read" books nowadays - while I am doing non-thinking tasks such as ironing, crafting, driving in the car, etc.
I love books, though my genre is fantasy/scifi and true crime. I listen to my audiobooks on Kindle all the time when I'm out of the house. I'm impatient so they take my mind off the terrible traffic or standing in long lines. Or just shopping or walking the dogs. I don't read books any more though I have tons of written books on my kindle. Most of my audiobooks are borrowed from the library's Overdrive (audio book section) and I have a paid monthly subscription to Amazon's audiobooks company which gives me one credit to use to buy an audiobook which I save to buy for sale books. Mostly all the book there are one credit anyway, regardless of the dollar amount. BB
ReplyDeleteI love the Hawaii Public Library Overdrive system. I get all my Kindle books from them and it's wonderful! I tried audiobooks, but I kept falling asleep.
DeleteI must put a reserve on the 100 year old man. the last time I looked there were so many people ahead of me that I didn't bother. I've heard others say it was really good,
ReplyDeleteI am not surprised. Mr. Brennert is such a nice man, besides being an excellent writer! I have met him, and took the liberty of sending him your praise for his book and a link to this post. Hope everyone at your house is having a fine August
ReplyDeleteCloudia, I'm so amazed at all the famous people people you've met! Wow!
Deletereading can be fun to follow someone else's life...
ReplyDeleteThese all sound like the kind of books I love to read, the kind that holds you captive. Thanks for introducing these, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI will put "Ove" on my list. For quite a while I was "living" in Nazi occupied France with "All The Light You Cannot See", and "The Nightingale". "The Nightingale" was especially good. I'n now reading "The Girl On the Train". Not sure about it yet.
ReplyDeleteI download audio books onto my phone and enjoy listening while I exercise or clean house. I will check to see if any of these are available. Always looking for new titles and good reviews like yours.
ReplyDeletesounds these are worth reading dear
ReplyDeletereceiving reply from fav personality is like a wonderful treat
Fascinating books. I knew something about Leporasy because I had read about it in Europe, and also in James Michener's Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about these books. Do you mean that your grandfather was there helping people who had the disease? There's a show I watched on Netflix about leprosy. Triumph at Carville. Documentary with the setting in Louisiana. I thought it very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes, my grandfather was a zen priest and his temple was in Kaunakakai. Once a month he would travel by horse or mule to Kalaupapa to tend to the victims of Hansen's disease (leprosy). He would also bring movies from Oahu to show the patients and raised funds for a clubhouse where they could meet. Grandfather said he was there after Father Damien, but felt a great deal of respect for Brother Dutton who had gone to Molokai to help him and lived there for over 40 years.
DeleteI've finished reading Honolulu and loved it too. I'll be looking forward to Mr. Brennert's next book.